Iconic Islamic Monuments in Andalusia

Although we may think of Spain now as a Catholic country, between the 8th and 15th Centuries, the southern region––Andalusia––was largely under Muslim rule, primarily Arab migrants and Amazigh populations from nearby North Africa. Islamic conquest of the region began in 711, with the victory of Umayyad-Muslim troops over the pre-existing Visigothic kingdom.

The emirate of Córdoba, as an extension of Umayyad rule into the Iberian Peninsula, was established in 756 by the Syrian expat Abd al-Rahman I. For the next seven centuries, Muslim populations flourished in the beautiful region of Al-Andalus, creating some of the finest art and architecture known to mankind. 

Now, five hundred years after the fall of Granada––the final Muslim stronghold in Andalusia––I am privileged to have seen so much of its lingering legacy. Despite many Islamic monuments having been destroyed by Christian rulers during the Reconquista, many still remain as centers of tourism and education. Here are three Islamic monuments I was able to visit as a part of IES Abroad’s curriculum:

• The Mosque of Córdoba

As I previously mentioned, the Caliphate of Córdoba was the heart of Islamic Spain, one of the most important political and cultural centers of the region. As part of a class trip, I had the opportunity to visit the Mosque of Córdoba last week, with valuable commentary provided by my Islamic Art & Architecture professor. While the iconic brick-and-stone arches look cool in photographs, they’re absolutely breathtaking in real life. Stepping into the mosque, I was astonished first by its sheer size, and then by the complexity of each miniscule design. Every inch of the mosque is covered in Arabic scripture and intricate geometric patterns. Following King Ferdinand’s conquest of Córdoba in 1236, the mosque was converted into a cathedral, as evidenced by the stained glass windows and the effigy of a crucified Jesus.

• The Giralda

Despite our weekend in Seville being cancelled, I arranged my own trip a couple weeks later and booked a visit to the Cathedral of Seville. Like the Mosque of Córdoba, the Cathedral stands now on what was once a medieval Andalusian mosque. Not much remains of its Islamic roots save for la Giralda, a bell tower that was once a minaret, the structure used by muezzins to make the five daily calls to prayer. Although the cathedral itself was gorgeous, the highlight of my trip was absolutely climbing la Giralda and seeing the breathtaking view of Seville 300 feet below, imagining the ancient Almohads gathering together to worship. It was definitely worth the twenty-minute climb!

• The Alhambra

Situated in the mountains of Granada, the Alhambra is truly the heart of the city and its main tourist attraction. This sprawling palace-fortress complex was constructed under the Nasrid Dynasty during the 13th and 14th Centuries, before ultimately falling to Catholic ownership in 1492. However, the Alhambra remains the best-preserved medieval Islamic palace surviving today in Spain, highlighting Granada’s role as the final Islamic stronghold of Al-Andalus. It’s an incredible experience to wander the Alhambra’s many gardens and clay-walled rooms, inspecting the inscriptions and geometric etchings carved centuries ago by Spain’s since-exiled moors.